Per Wake Co. Hoops
2021-22: 16-11 (8-6), 4th in SWAC, 1st Round of Playoffs (L to Hillside 52-57)
Key Losses
Patrick Mallot – 13ppg, 4apg – Graduated – Playing at Mary Baldwin University
Weston Freiling – 6ppg, 5rpg – Graduated
Key Returners
Sam Martin – Senior – 15ppg, 9rpg, 5.5bpg
Kody Frey – Sophomore – 12ppg, 2.5 3pm/g
Trey Barbee – Senior – 10ppg, 5rpg – 14.5ppg as Sophomore
Zaelyn White – Sophomore – 8ppg, 4rpg
Jack McCurdy – Senior – 5ppg, 39 made 3s on the year
Key Newcomers
Omar Banks – Senior – Transfer from a private school, attended Apex the year prior
Projected Rotation
Starters: Omar Banks, Kody Frey, Zaelyn White, Trey Barbee, Sam Martin
Bench: Jack McCurdy, James Smith, Adley Calhoun, Taron Brown
Storylines
The Cougars finished last season with 1.33 Wins Over Average (WOA) which was good for 12th in Wake County, 23rd in 4A East, and 45th in 4A overall. They return 76% of their FGAs and 73% of their points from a year ago. They are top 8 in the county in returning production for every major stat category.
Kody Frey was a superstar freshman last season that was lighting up the SWAC. He went down with an unfortunate ACL injury that has sidelined him from February through now. This Apex team will rely a lot on whether Kody can return early in the season or not because of how talented he is. If and when Kody comes back I fully expect him to have an even bigger impact than he did last year and make a noticeable leap as a sophomore.
If Kody is unable to return or he has an extended absence, Apex will look to the bench to fill his role. I don
